Boiler cleaner



Sept. 13, 1932. N. L. SNQW T AL, 1,877,720

BOILER CLEANER Original Filed Jan. 15, 192.3 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 13, 1932. 1 SNQW ET AL 1,877,720

BOILER CLEANER Original Filed Jan. 15 19:3 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k n I I a] 1: I 140$" MS I 7: m Normwn/ L \Ynou/ villi/A;

Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED sures P ENT OFFICE NORMAN L. sNow, on NEW GANAAN, GONNEGTIGUT', AND GUR'IIS'L. nowsn AND FRANK nownns, or nnrnorr, MICHIGAN, AssmNoRsC re DIAMOND ro'wnn srromm'r CORPORATION, 01'' nn'morr, MICHIGAN, a ooRro-nA'rIoN or" MIGHIGAN normn Creams Application filedlammry I5, 1923, Sci-tat No. 612,766. Renewed January 20, 19313.

This invention relates to boiler cleanersand refers more particularly to boiler clean-- ers of the type in which jets of steam or the like are directed against the surfaces to be,

cleaned. One of the objects of the invention is to. provide an improved means for rotating.

5 erating the: same.

In the, drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevationalview nertly in section through. a boiler cleaner emodying my invention Figure 2 1s a cross-section on the line of Figure 1;

' cleaned.

Ea worm G which is fixed ontheshaft FL. The.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view, showing a modification Figure t is a section on the line of Figure 3. I I

Figure 5 is a detail sectional. vlew along the line 55 of Figure Describing first in detailthe particular. embodiment of my invention shown in Fig 1 ures I and Q' A designates a rotatable blower pipe or blower unit having discharge nozzles B through which steam or the like is adapt.- ed to be discharged for cleaning the surfaces of the boiler tubes 0 or other The blower pipe A receives its steamthroughports AL", these ports-communicating through the chamber A withthe stationary steam inlet B. a For closing the communica tion of ports A with inlet B there is provided a valve 1) adapted to engage a seat D'.. The valve D is carried by' the valvestem D and is operated: by turning the sheave or hand-wheelE in the followingmanner: This sheave wheel Eis fixedly secured to the shaft;

F so that when the sheave wheel is revolvedthe shatt F also revolves. Assuming. that the valiveD isaga-insttits seat D the wheel is revolved to the right. This also. turns the.

surfaces" to be worm G meshes-with the worm gear G. The latter, however, in this, position. of the parts is prevented from revolving due to the fact that it is held by the dog H which engages aslot H .in the worm gear-hub. The con tinned operation of revolving the wheel E to the right results in the wheel E','shaft F and worm G being moved forward and as the shaft 13" carries the valve stem Da in opening the valveD from its seat D. When, how ever, the shoulder F on the worm Grv abuts against theinner face F of the worm gear housing this prevents further movement longitu'diRally of the worm and the valve. However, theproportion of parts is such that at thistimethe dog H has become disengaged from the slot H. The mechanism for disengaging the dog consists of alever H pivoted at and having a projecting end H extending into a slot As the shaft F is fedforward: the shoulder of the slot E will force the projectingiend H of the lever H forwardly and thus rock the locking dog H to: a position where it will clear the slot H. Fur.- the-r rotation of the handle E to the right will then revolve the Worm gear G, the locking dog H. being held out duringthe further rotation of the wheel The blower is then, reversed. by turning the wheel Erin-to the leftin the left-hand direction until the slot comeslback into registration with the dog this registration of the dog H and the slot I-l again takes place the dog comes in contactwith the lugE which holds the blowen pipenfrom further rotation and immediately the stem F starts to move to the right and continueslthis movement untilthe valve D is brought tightly against the seat D". It willbenoticedi that this novellarrangement is not only used for rotating'the unit adjustjing the valve but that the unit is positively held from rotation both during the opening and closing oft'he valve. It is of course understood that the valve could just" as readily be one that is forced against its seat as one thatis drawn against its seat.

The same broad idea of locking the unit from rotating automatically while the valve is being opened and closed from the same operating member is embodied in the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4. e

Describing more in detail this modified form, J designates the stationary supply pipe which through the passage J and port J 2 connects to the interior of the valve cage. The length of the periods of admission of steam to the interior of the valve cage J is controlled by a plate J 3 which can be ad.

justed for the various installations right at the place of installation by cutting off a these grooves in the manner hereinafter de-' scribed and mounted in a suitable housing M carried by a stationary part of the blower structure are locking dogs M and M normally pressed toward the grooves by springs M and M The dog M is provided with a groove engaging portion M and the dog M is provided with a groove engaging portion M It will be noted that the groove engaging portions M and M are out of alignment so that the groove engaging portion M will come to the end of its groove in advance of the groove engaging portion M when the shaft is moved toward the left. For steadying the dogs M and M suitable members M may be threaded through the housings M for engagement in grooves M formed in the dogs. the sheave wheel L is revolved in the righthand direction. However, in this position the locking dog M fitting in one of the slots M will prevent the shaft K from rotating. The sheave L through'the screw threads K will then act as a nut to feed the shaft K outward which will result in moving the valve K away from its seat K This opening movement will continue until the dog M reaches the incline N where it starts to rise out of the groove and finally rests on the outer surface of the shaft'Kl In this position the shaft K is free to revolve and at the same time the shoulder O on the shaft K comes into contact with the shoulder O- on the sheave wheel preventing the screw and shaft K from running any further outward. In effect that locks the sheave L and shaft K together asthe sheave L continues to be rotated in a right-hand direc-i tion. After the shaft K is free to revolve For opening the valvev the continued movement in the right-hand direction of the sheave L will rotate the blower pipe Q, so as to properly direct the steam from its jets Q, against the surfaces of the boiler tubes Ror at the surfaces to be cleaned; Vanes or splines S on the shaft are provided so that a lateral movement can take place between the shaft K, the driver threaded portion or worm K of'tlie shaft inward, moving theshaft K and the valve K Ulltll'th latter is finally seated against its seat K In this last described construction it will be noted thatthe right-hand movement only of the sheave wheel is utilized for rotating the unit whereas in the construction shown'in Figures 1 and Qthe initial righthand movement opens the valve'and the continued right-hand movement of the wheel rotates the unit and it is then rotated back during the initial left-hand rotation of the wheel but that in both cases the unit is locked from rotation while the valve is 'beingopened and closed so that a'jpositive mechanical operation of the valve takes place which cannot be effected by steam pressure or other factors. i

, For the sake of convenience, this invention has'been described'as being embodied in a boiler cleaner adapted to clean parts of a boiler. It'wi'll be apparent, however, that the nvention may also be embodied in similar types of'cleaning devices, and it is to be therefore understood, that theterm boiler wherever "used in the specification or claims ifs'to be construed as meaning aheat transfer apparatus or fluid heater of any character, while the termboiler cleaner to be construed as' meaning a cleaner for any such apparatus. I 7

It might be noted further that while there is disclosed in this application a construction in whicha sequentialactuation of the valve and blower element is efiected, a construction of this character-is described and broadly claimed inja copending application Serial No. 474,483, filed-August 11, 1930.

l Vhat we claim. as our invention is:

1. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe and a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said pipe of'a common means for rotating said pipe and actuating said valve adapted upon movement in one direction to opensaid valve and then automatically rotate the pipe and upon movement in a reverse direction to close the valve and means to prevent rotation of the pipe while the valve is being opened.

2. In a soot blower, the'combination with a rotatable blower pipe and a valve for controlling the supply or cleaning fluid to said pipe of a common means for rotating said pipe and actuating said valve adapted upon movement in one direction to open said valve and then automatically rotate the pip-e and upon movement in a reverse direction to close the valve and means to prevent rotation of the pipe while the valve is being closed.

3. In a soot blOWClQtllQ combination with a rotatable blower pipe and a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said pipe of a common means for rotating said pipe and actuating said valve adapted upon movement in one direction to open said valve and then automatically rotate the pipe and upon rotation in a reverse direction to close the valve and means to prevent rotation or" the pipe while the valve is being opened and closed.

4. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe, a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said pipe and a common means for rotating said pipe and actuating said valve, said means tending to rotate said pipe during the actuation of said valve; of means for holding the pipe from rotation while the valve is being closed.

5. In a soot blower, the combination with a blower unit and a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said unit, of an operating member, means controlled by the operating member for moving the valve a predetermined amount, and means also controlled by the operating member for automatically moving the blower unit, said oper ating member adapted upon reverse move= ment thereof to restore the blower unit to its original position without moving said valve and then to automatically move the valve to its original position without moving the blower unit. v

6. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatableyblower pipe, a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said'pipe, and a common means for rotating said pipe, and actuating said valve, said means tending to rotate said pipe, during the actuation of said valve, of means for holding the pipe from rotation while the valve is being opened.

7. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe, a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said pipe, and a common means for rotating said pipe and actuating said valve, said means tending to rotatesaid pipe during the actuation of said valve, of means for holding the pipe from rotation while the valve is being opened and closed.

8. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe element and a valve element for controlling the supply of cleam ing fluid to said pipe, ofmembers for rotating said pipe and actuating said valve, said members being at all times connected and means for holding one of said members stationary while the other of said members is being moved to actuate the corresponding one of said elements.

9. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe, and a valve forcolltrolling the supply of cleaning fluid to said pipe, of a common means for rotating said pipe and actuating said valve, said common means including a member adapted upon longitudinal movement to actuate said valve and upon a rotary movement to rotate said blower pipe, and means preventing the rotary movement of said member until the longitu: dinal movement thereof has been completed.

10. In a soot blower, the combination'with a rotatable blower pipe and a valve for controlling the supply of fluid to said blower pipe, of means including a wormior rotating saidpipe and actuating said Valve, said means being adapted upon movement of the worm in a longitudinal direction to actuate said valve, and upon rotary movement of said worm to rotate said blower pipe, and means insuring .the completion of the longitudinal movement of said worm before said rotary movement begins.

11. In a soot blower, the combination with a blower pipe and a valve for controlling the supply of fluid to said pipe, of means includinga worm for successively moving said valve and blower unit, and means automatically controlled by themovement of said worm for effecting said successivevmovement of said valve and blower unit.

12. In a soot blower, the combination with a blower pipe and a valve for controlling the supply of fluid to said pipe, of a gear fixed to said blower pipe, a commonmeans to move said valve to a predetermined'point and to actuate said gear, and a detent member-engaging said gear and preventing actuation thereof until the valve has been moved to said predetermined point. I

13. In a soot blower, the combination with a blower pipe and a valve for controlling the supply of fluid to said pipe, of a member fixed to said blower pipe, a common means to move said member and to' actuate said valve, a detont member movable transversely of said first mentioned member and operable to compel a successive movement of said valve and said member.

14. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower pipe adapted to discharge steam or tlie like and a valve for admitting steam or the like to said blower pipe, of a common means for actuating said blower pipe and opening and closing said valve, means distinct from said valve for eflecting an unbalanced force upon said valve when in thereto, a stem for said valve, and means open position' acting in va direction opposite to that taken by the valve in moving to closed position whereby the actuation of said blow-.

er pipe is completed before the valve is moved from open position, and means limiting the travel of the blower pipe.

15. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower pipe, and a valve for controlling the passage of cleaning fluid there- 197 through, of actuating mechanism for succes- 203 said types at a time.

16. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower pipe, and a valve for controlling the passage of cleaning fluid therethrough, of actuating mechanism for successively actuating said valve and moving said blower pipe, said mechanism being mounted for two different types of movement, movement of said mechanismconformable to one type effecting an operation of said valve and movement of said mechanism conformable to the other type resulting in movement of said blower pipe, and locking means operable to prevent movement of said mechanism conformable to one type until movement of said mechanism conformable to the other type has been completed.

17. In a soot blower, the combination with a movable blower pipeand a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said pipe, of a common means for opening said valve while said blower pipe is stationary and for then moving said blower pipe, and means independent of said valve for limiting the periods of admission of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe during movement of the latter.

18. Ina soot blower, the combination with a movable blower pipe and a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said pipe, said valve being movable with said pipe and also relative thereto, of a common means for first moving said valve relative to said pipe to open the valve and for then moving said valve with said blower pipe.

19. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe, of a valve for controlling, the flow of cleaning fluid to-said blower pipe, said valve being rotatable with said blower pipe and also movable relative associated with said stem for first moving said stem to move said valve to open position and for then moving said stem to rotate said valve and blower pipe as aunit.

20. In a soot blower, the combination with said member in the other direction to then close said valve without movement of said blower pipe and means for holding said blower pipe against movement during opening of said valve.

21. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe and a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe, of a stem for said valve, a member rotatably mounted on said valve stem, and means associated with said member and said valve stem operable upon rotation of said member in one direction to first open said valve and to then rotate said blower pipe and operable upon rotation of said member in the other direction to close said valve.

22. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe and a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe, of a stem for said valve, said stem being mounted for longitudinal movement without rotation thereof to actuate said valve and being mounted for rotative movement and so connected to'said blower pipe as to rotate the latter upon rotation of the stem, and means for successively effecting said longitudinal androtative movements of said stem.

23. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe, and a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe, of a stem for said valve having a threaded portion, said stem being mounted for longitudinal movement to actuate said valve and being mounted for rotative move ment to rotate said blower pipe, and means includin a sheave wheel threaded on said valve stem for successively effecting said longitudinal and rotative movements of said valve stem. I a

24. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe, and a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe, of a stem for said valve, said stem being provided with a threaded portion and with longitudinally extending grooves adjacent said threaded portion, and means including a sheave'wheel threadedly engaging the threaded portion of said valve stem and members engageable in the grooves of said valve stem for first effecting a longitudinal movement of said valve stem to open said valve and for then effecting a rotation of said valve stem to rotate said blower pipe.

25. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe and a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe, of meansfor successively movmam ing said valve to open position while said blower pipe is stationary and for then rotating said blower pipe, and means for controlling the periods of supply of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe while said valve is in open position and said blower pipe is being rotated.

26. In a soot blower, a movable blower pipe, a two-part valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe, one of said valve parts being fixed on said blower pipe, means for effecting a movement of one of said valve parts relative to the other while the other is stationary to admit cleaning fluid to said blower pipe, and means for moving said valve'parts and said blower pipe together as a unit to direct jets of cleaning fluid from the blower pipe toward the parts of the boiler to be cleaned.

27. In a soot blower, a rotatable blower pipe, a two-part valve for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe, one of said valve parts being fixed on said blower pipe, and means for eiiecting a relative movement between said valve parts while one of said valve parts is stationary to admit cleaning fluid to said blower pipe and for then rotating said valve parts and said blower pipe together as a unit to dII'GCtI jets of cleaning fluid adjacent portions of the boiler to be cleaned.

28. In a soot blower, the combination with a rotatable blower pipe, and a valve for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said pipe, said valve being movable with said pipe and also relative thereto, of means for effecting a relative movement between said blower pipe and said valve to open said valve and for then rotating said valve and blower pipe as a unit todirect jets of cleaning fluid adjacent portions of the boiler to be cleaned.

29. In a boiler cleaner, a blower movable to direct a jet of cleaning fluidadjacent the portions of the boiler to be cleaned, and a member for controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to said blower and for moving said blower, said member being axially aligned with said blower and being mounted for two types of movement, movement of said member conformable to one type controlling the supply of cleaning fluid to the blower and movement of said member conformable to the other type effecting a movement of said rect a jet-of cleaning fluid from the same adjacent the portions of the boiler to be cleaned. a I v [31. Ina boiler cleaner, a blower element, a valve controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to the saidblower element, means for rotating the said blower element and for actuating the said valve, and'means separate from' said valve actuating means for influencing the actuation of said valve to cause thesame to open before rotation of theblower element and to close after rotation 01": the blowerelement e V 32. boiler 'cleaner, the combination with a rotary blower element,a valve seat carried by said element, anda valve coopcrating with said valve seat for controlling the passage of cleaning fluid tosaid blower element, said valve being movable longitudinallyof said blower element, of a rotatable driving member,and .means for operating said valve during a portion ofthe rotation of "said driving member and for operating said blower element during another portion of rotation. 4 I

33.e -Ina boiler cleaner, the combination both rotatable members together; 34=. In a soot blower, a rotatable blower pipe, a valveseatimember, a valve member Cooperating with said valve seat member for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe, a rotatable actuating member, means operable upon rotation of said actuating member in onedirection to first effect a relative movement between said valve seat member and said valve member to admit cleaning fluid to said blower element and to then rotate .said blower element through a predetermined are, said means being operable npon rotation of said actuating member in a reverse direction to first move said blower element in a reverse direction through said are and to then effect arelative movement of said valve seat member and valve member to cutoff the supply of cleaning fluid to said blower element, and means operable to positively prevent relative movement between said valve member and said valve seat member incident to a cutting off of the supply of cleaning fluid to the blower pipe during rotation of the blower pipe in both di- 1 rections through said are.

35; In a soot blower, a blower pipe mounted for oscillation, means for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to said blower pipe in-. cluding a valve seat member and a valve with said lastmentioned means for rotating n member engageable with said' valve seat I member, a member mounted for oscillation for oscillating said blower pipe, means operable upon oscillation of said member to i firstefi'ect a relative movement between said valve seat member and said valve member to admit cleaning fluid to said blower pipe, and meansoperable to positively hold said Valve members in position to admit cleaning fluid to said blower pipe during one complete oscillation of said blower pipe.

7 36. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower unit movable about its axis, ofa valve casing with which said unit cominunicates, said casing having an inlet for a cleaning fluid, a valve in said casing controlling the fluid supply to said blower pipe, and a. common actuating member for said blower pipe and valve member slidably connected in said casing to the'bloWer pipe.

37. The combination with a rotatable blower element, of a valve movable relative to said blower element for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, said valve being rotatable in unison with said blower element, and means operable in timed relation to the rotation of said blower element for securing the relative movement of 1 said valve and blower element, said means being arranged to permit an angular movement of said blower element through an angle equal at least, to 360 degrees.

38. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a movable blowerelement having an enlarged chamber on one end and a port in the said chamber eccentric to the axis ofthe element, of acleaning fluid supply conduit for the said element, a. head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and said blower element, a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid through said head assembly, and means for moving said blower element and for actuating said valve. a

' In testimony whereof we aflix oursignatures.

NORMAN L. SNOW. CURTIS L. HOWSE. FRANK BOWERS. 

